BRAC Bank promotes women’s hockey with another Tk 20 million project

Recognising the immense potential of women’s hockey in Bangladesh following the success of its earlier interventions in the sport, BRAC Bank has committed another Tk 20 million in 2026 to expand the “BRAC Bank Aporajeyo Alo Women Hockey Development Programme” in partnership with the Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF), according to a press release.

The investment builds on BRAC Bank’s previous support for women’s hockey, including a Tk 10 million contribution of the BRAC Bank Aporajeyo Alo Tournament in 2025. Through the expanded programme, more than 500 aspiring female hockey players from across Bangladesh will receive professional training, specialised development opportunities, scholarships, and competitive exposure.

The programme aims to strengthen the women’s hockey ecosystem by identifying grassroots talent, enhancing elite performance, and building a sustainable pipeline of athletes capable of representing Bangladesh at national and international levels. It reflects BRAC Bank’s continued commitment to creating opportunities for young women and advancing social progress through sport.

The agreement was formally signed at BRAC Bank’s head office in Dhaka in the presence of senior officials from both organisations, reaffirming their shared commitment to advancing women’s participation in competitive sport.

The programme will engage female hockey players from districts across the country through district-level training, specialised goalkeeper development pathways, merit-based scholarships, and a national competition platform. It is designed to create a structured pathway that enables young athletes to progress from grassroots participation to high-performance competition.

More than 500 female players will benefit from professional coaching under the initiative. The development framework includes district-level non-residential training for emerging talent, advanced coaching for high-performance athletes, residential goalkeeper development, and targeted scholarships for BKSP-enrolled sportspersons, ensuring access, progression, and sustained development across all levels.

The programme will culminate in the BRAC Bank Aporajeyo Alo Nari Hockey Tournament 2026, providing a national platform for emerging athletes to showcase their talent and advance their sporting careers.

The 2025 edition of the tournament demonstrated the programme’s impact, with 11 players selected for the national team and four promoted to the Asian Games qualifier squad. Bangladesh subsequently secured its first-ever qualification for the Asian Games in women’s hockey after finishing as runners-up in the qualifiers.

Speaking on the occasion, Tareq Refat Ullah Khan, Managing Director and CEO of BRAC Bank, said, “Sir Abed believed that Bangladesh does not lack talent, but opportunities. Through this programme, BRAC Bank is building structured pathways that allow young women to pursue their sporting ambitions with dignity and confidence. This is about inclusion, empowerment and nation-building through purposeful investment in people.”

Lt Col Riazul Hasan (Retd), General Secretary of the Bangladesh Hockey Federation, said, “Women’s hockey in Bangladesh holds immense promise. BRAC Bank’s continued support strengthens grassroots development and enhances competitive readiness, both of which are critical to building a stronger national framework for the sport.”

The initiative aligns with BRAC Bank’s broader Corporate Social Responsibility agenda, focused on inclusion, empowerment, and sustainable opportunity creation. Through continued investment in women’s sport, the bank seeks to expand opportunities for young athletes, advance gender equity, and strengthen Bangladesh’s presence on the international sporting stage.